Kelowna in the Okanagan is Canada’s cherry capital
Cradled in the mountains of southern British Columbia, Kelowna encompasses and is surrounded by orchards and rolling farmland — which contribute to the city’s role as a major player in the global agribusiness sector. All told, there are over 794 agri-food businesses in the Okanagan Valley region and 870 farms that produce everything from tree fruits, like apples, to a wide range of vegetables. Read on to discover more about Kelowna’s flourishing agriculture sector.
Cherries on the world stage
When it comes to harvesting cherries, there’s no question that the Okanagan punches above its weight. Case in point: the incredibly successful Jealous Fruits.
The family-owned business has been producing premium cherries in Kelowna for over 115 years. Today, Jealous Fruits has approximately 400,000 cherry trees on over 1,000 acres of land, not to mention a 140,000 square foot sorting and packing facility — making it the largest cherry producer in Canada.
Jealous Fruits’ cherries are shipped to over 20 countries around the world, with China and the United States as its largest markets. The company also provides the finest late harvest cherries in the Northern Hemisphere, earning the company the reputation of being the “Grand Finale” of the cherry season.
Cradled in the mountains of southern British Columbia, Kelowna encompasses and is surrounded by orchards and rolling farmland — which contribute to the city’s role as a major player in the global agribusiness sector. All told, there are over 794 agri-food businesses in the Okanagan Valley region and 870 farms that produce everything from tree fruits, like apples, to a wide range of vegetables. Read on to discover more about Kelowna’s flourishing agriculture sector.
Cherries on the world stage
When it comes to harvesting cherries, there’s no question that the Okanagan punches above its weight. Case in point: the incredibly successful Jealous Fruits.
The family-owned business has been producing premium cherries in Kelowna for over 115 years. Today, Jealous Fruits has approximately 400,000 cherry trees on over 1,000 acres of land, not to mention a 140,000 square foot sorting and packing facility — making it the largest cherry producer in Canada.
Jealous Fruits’ cherries are shipped to over 20 countries around the world, with China and the United States as its largest markets. The company also provides the finest late harvest cherries in the Northern Hemisphere, earning the company the reputation of being the “Grand Finale” of the cherry season.
“Canada is a real leader in the worldwide cherry industry. At Jealous Fruits, our goal is to produce the highest quality cherries that customers across the globe can enjoy and we have a long history of doing just that.”
A unique climate
Jealous Fruits credits its location as a major reason for its remarkable success throughout the decades. Kelowna boasts many geographical advantages that help support agricultural production, including its fertile soil, unique topography and a dry climate.
“Bordered by mountains and host to magnificent lakes, the Okanagan Valley is an extremely fertile environment,” adds Rampone. “The Okanagan Lake provides a great deal of temperature moderation in the summer and winter, which is exactly what you need for excellent cherry production.”
Along with its prime location, the Okanagan Valley is home to a high concentration of world-class educational institutions and research facilities, including the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus and the Government of Canada’s Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland. These facilities develop talent and innovation in the sector and have helped make Jealous Fruits a pioneer in cherry fruit research, growing, packing and distribution.
Additionally, the region is tied to an efficient and reliable transportation network, which enables cherries to reach domestic and international markets in record time. For instance, Kelowna is only four hours by car to Vancouver, five hours to Seattle and seven hours to Calgary.
Content-rich business events
Kelowna’s agriculture strength makes it a premiere destination for conferences and meetings focused on or in the sector, from growing to research and development. When organizations choose to meet in the city, they gain access to cutting-edge site visits and tours and have the chance to connect with local experts.
The city also boasts strong conference infrastructure, which includes over 110,000-square-feet of meeting space and more than 4,500 guest rooms. There’s also a wealth of activities for delegates to enjoy between meetings and sessions. The Kelowna region has five distinct wine trails, three ski resorts and one of the longest golf seasons in Canada — not to mention a vibrant culinary scene and nightlife featuring craft breweries and distilleries derived from the surrounding agriculture that also help boost attendee interest.
“Organizations that meet in Kelowna get to experience incredible outdoor activities, an impressive culinary scene and world-class wineries — but that's only part of the advantage to meeting here,” explains Krista Mallory, manager of the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission. “They are also able to tap into local knowledge capital and meet the experts who are shaping what we eat and how it’s grown. As a result, delegates return feeling energized, inspired and filled with innovative ideas.”
Easy to get to
Kelowna is easy for delegates to reach. Its international airport offers more than 70 daily non-stop flights across Canada and to the US and Mexico. The airport is only a 20-minute drive from the downtown core, and provides free airport shuttles to most hotels, as well as plenty of rental cars, taxi services and regional bus lines.
Meetings with purpose
By augmenting speakers’ series with passionate industry innovators and enriching programming with localized tours, business event organizers can attract delegates, increase revenues and inspire future generations.
“We call that 'meeting with purpose’,” adds Mallory, pointing out that Kelowna is poised to show off its agricultural prowess, providing powerful networking and learning opportunities for experts in the field.
Learn more about Kelowna’s agriculture sector here.
A unique climate
Jealous Fruits credits its location as a major reason for its remarkable success throughout the decades. Kelowna boasts many geographical advantages that help support agricultural production, including its fertile soil, unique topography and a dry climate.
“Bordered by mountains and host to magnificent lakes, the Okanagan Valley is an extremely fertile environment,” adds Rampone. “The Okanagan Lake provides a great deal of temperature moderation in the summer and winter, which is exactly what you need for excellent cherry production.”
Along with its prime location, the Okanagan Valley is home to a high concentration of world-class educational institutions and research facilities, including the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus and the Government of Canada’s Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland. These facilities develop talent and innovation in the sector and have helped make Jealous Fruits a pioneer in cherry fruit research, growing, packing and distribution.
Additionally, the region is tied to an efficient and reliable transportation network, which enables cherries to reach domestic and international markets in record time. For instance, Kelowna is only four hours by car to Vancouver, five hours to Seattle and seven hours to Calgary.
Content-rich business events
Kelowna’s agriculture strength makes it a premiere destination for conferences and meetings focused on or in the sector, from growing to research and development. When organizations choose to meet in the city, they gain access to cutting-edge site visits and tours and have the chance to connect with local experts.
The city also boasts strong conference infrastructure, which includes over 110,000-square-feet of meeting space and more than 4,500 guest rooms. There’s also a wealth of activities for delegates to enjoy between meetings and sessions. The Kelowna region has five distinct wine trails, three ski resorts and one of the longest golf seasons in Canada — not to mention a vibrant culinary scene and nightlife featuring craft breweries and distilleries derived from the surrounding agriculture that also help boost attendee interest.
“Organizations that meet in Kelowna get to experience incredible outdoor activities, an impressive culinary scene and world-class wineries — but that's only part of the advantage to meeting here,” explains Krista Mallory, manager of the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission. “They are also able to tap into local knowledge capital and meet the experts who are shaping what we eat and how it’s grown. As a result, delegates return feeling energized, inspired and filled with innovative ideas.”
Easy to get to
Kelowna is easy for delegates to reach. Its international airport offers more than 70 daily non-stop flights across Canada and to the US and Mexico. The airport is only a 20-minute drive from the downtown core, and provides free airport shuttles to most hotels, as well as plenty of rental cars, taxi services and regional bus lines.
Meetings with purpose
By augmenting speakers’ series with passionate industry innovators and enriching programming with localized tours, business event organizers can attract delegates, increase revenues and inspire future generations.
“We call that 'meeting with purpose’,” adds Mallory, pointing out that Kelowna is poised to show off its agricultural prowess, providing powerful networking and learning opportunities for experts in the field.
Learn more about Kelowna’s agriculture sector here.